Method of



(No ModeL) F. '-L. BLAIR.

METHOD 0F APPLYING CLOTH T0 INSOLBS..

No. 333,499. 3 Patented' Jan. 5, 1886.

d 7 IMM .Mtn-esse@ '3 l Inventor.

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Nrrnn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. BLAIR, OF ALLEGI-IENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF APPLYING CLFOTH TO INSOLES.

i FSPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,499, dated January 5, 1886.

Application filed May 18, 1885. Serial No. 165,923. (No model.)

My invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of cork insoles for boots or shoes; and it consists in a new and improvedmethod for lining the upper part of such sole with cloth.

rIhis operation has hitherto been commonly performed by hand and has been tedious and disagreeable.

By my improved method the work is shortenedjand made far less troublesome.

I will now describe my invention by reference to the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure lis a plan view'of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same on the line x x of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the fabric after it has been placed in the apparatus in readiness for attachment to the insole.

In the drawings, c represents a block or frame the surface of which is recessed,.as at b, in the shape of an insole, the recess being at all parts about the length and width to conform to the size of the sole to be treated therein, and preferably a little deeper than the thickness of such insole. The outer dimonsions of the surface of the frame itself should be of the same shape as that of the recess-that is to say,thereis aperipheral space, d, between the sides of the recess and the edge of the frame, which is' substantially equal at all points, and is about the difference in width between the insole and the piece of fabric which is intended to cover it. The purpose of this isto act as a guide for placing the fabric upon the frame. The edges of the former should exactly coincide with'the edges of the latter, so that when the cloth is doubled it may overlap the insole equally at all points, as will be hereinafter explained.

. When the apparatus is thus constructed,its mode of operation is as follows: A piece of fabric, c, a little larger than the insole, is laid upon the frame over the recess b, and the insole e superposed upon it and pressed down into the recess. The effect of this is to stretch the fabric tightly over the surface of the sole and to turn up its edges above the sides of recess, as shown at Fig. 3. The next and nal step in the process is to turn down the projecting edges upon the then uppermost side of theinsole, and to secure them thereto while the sole is still in the frame. The latter may be done by pasting the edges to the insole or to a connecting-strip of oil-cloth or other fabric.

rIhe advantages of my improved method and apparatus vare that the cloth is thereby attached to the insole more speedily and stretched thereon more tightly than has heretofore been achievable. The stretching is performed at the same time with the turning-up of the edges by pressing the insole into the recess, thesides of which, engaging the fabric, cause it to be stretched tightly over the insole.

I do not desire to limit myself to the treatment of cork insoles, since my improvement is applicable to soles made of cardboard or like material as well.

I do not desire to limit myselfto the useof a frame of the exact shape and construction hereinbefore explained. It may be of any suitable form and arrangement. The recessv may often be conveniently made entirely without a bottom or with a peripheral flange projecting inwardly at the base of the recess, to 1 act as a stop for the insole. When the recess is bottomless, the frame consists of a simple shell or rim, and,when placed upon a table or other support, the latter will of course act as a bottom to prevent the insole from being pushed in too far.

What I claim as myinventiomvand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method hereinbefore described of applying cloth to insoles, which consists in placing the cloth over a recess whose shapev and size conform approximately to those of the insole, superposing the insole, pressing it into the recess over the cloth, and securing the latter to the insole by pasting the projecting edges of the cloth, substantially as and for the purposes described. l

2. The method hereinbefore describedof apzool, u

plying cloth to insoles, which consists in plac- In iestimony whereof I have hereunto set ing the cloth over a recess whose shape and my hand this 13th day of May, A. D. 1885. size conform approximately to those ofthe insole, ,superposing the insole. pressing it. into FRANK L' BLAIR' 5 the recess over the cloth, and securing the lat- Vitnesses:

ter to the insole, substantially as and for the THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, purposes described. Jos. II. JACOBS. 

